Combined trouble light and cigar lighter



Aug. 30,v 1927.

H. c. LlEBlNG COMBINED TROUBLE LIGHT AND CiG'AR LIGHTER Filed Nov. 20, 1 924 2 sheets-sheet 1 w m flu M d w 7 a W E A Aug. 30, 1927. 1,640,507

H. c. LIEBING COMBINED TROUBLE LIGHT AND CIGAR LIGHTER Filed Nov. 20, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

J/owmdC. 32765222 1. BY

ATTORNEYS Patented Au 30,1927. a 7 j v ltitfili? amis sits-res eater tries.

irowAnn errnnme, or LEvELAnn, OHIO, assrenon, BY Mnsnn ASSIGNMENTS, T 7 TI-IE CUNo ENGINEERING CORPORATION, or rannrnniv, eonnnorrcur, A on- "y-ronarrolv or CONNECTICUT. r

COMBINED TROUBLELIGHT AND CIGAR LIGHTER.

Applicationfiled November 20, 1924. 7 Serial No. 751,033.

This invention relates to a combined nal position, as well as providing for the trouble: lamp and cigar lighten More partemporary detachment of the recoiling spring ticularly it comprises acasing adapted to be ot'the reel when the device is used as a attached to the instrument board of an auto trouble lamp. Still further objects of the 5 mobile, or some other readily accessible, invention will appear in the course of the place, and carry atthe end of-an extension following description. For the accomplishcord ac-igar lighter or trouble lamp, accord ment. of the foregoing and related ends, said ing to the particular needs of: the user of the invention, then, consists of the means heredevice. l j 4 inattter full described and particularly 10 Cigar lighters carriedv upon automatic pointed out in the claims.

reels have heretofore been used. on the in The annexed drawings andthe following struinent board of automobiles, but such dedescription set forth in detail certain mechaviccs are subject to certain disadvantages. nism embodying the invention, such dis- In many of such. constructions the ci 'ar closed means constituting, however, but one lighting filament commences to glow betore of various mechanical forms in which the the device has been moved any great disprinciple of the invention may be used. tance from its fully retracted position and In said annexed drawingsz continues to glowuntil itisrestored to its Fig. 1 is a side. elevation of the device original position. Hfin the interval, the showing the same applied to the instrument device is dropped, it will burn whatever it board of an automobile with the ci arlight comes into contact with, and it, because of ing tern'iinal in fully retracted position;

the weakness otthe recoiling spring 0 any Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, with the misadjustnient oi the device, the te inal cover portion of thedevice removed sons to is not restored to tan retracted position, illustrate the spiral switch operating groove the'current continues to charge'the filament upon one plate of the reel; Fig. 3 is a front and in the course of .tiine'willshortcircuit elevationofthe device with the cigar lightthe device, or through. the large amount of ing element in posit-ion; l is a transheatrlevelopedpwill melt the soldered converse c-entralsectional View tl rough the reel nections and burn I the insulating coating .andcaein'g showing the switch in the oti 30 oil? the wires. position; Fig. is an elevation showing- Sucli'; cigar lighters have buta single per the inside of the casing with the switch so pose, and carsso equipped are frequently lever attached thereto; Fig. 6 is a greatly also equipped with anautomatic trouble enlargedlongitudinal sectional View of-the lamp cn an autom tic reel which. may be cigar lighting unit showing the means or" loaded withanypredetermined length of securing "the heating element to the lava cable extension. f base and the metal connecting sleeve sej The principal object of the presentinvem cured thereto; Fig. 7 is a bottom plan View tion is to provide an improved device whereof the device shownin Fig. 6, also upon an in a single automatic reel incorporating air enlarged scale; 8 is a side elevation of it? improved switch may be utilized as part ot the trouble lamp in position within its ena combination wherein a cigar lighting terclosing; sleeve, saidsleeve being shown in secminal is employed or atrouble lamp bulb. tion; Fig. 9; a. bot-tolnplan view of the Another Obj of the invention is to providev terminal element; Fig. 10 is a longitudinal an. improved switch which will turn the cur sectional view showing the terminal base ii rent onor cit, inaccordance with the cl'iwith "the spring contact elements for the rection 'o't motion, and thus prevent injury lighting and heating unit; and Fig. ll is a through the dropping of the cigar lighter bottomplan view of said terminal element 7 after its momentary use and during the shown in Fig.10. I V

p snea wlie it is being restored to its origi- As clearly shown in the drawing, the

extension 7, adapted to serve as a spring housing. A reel carrying a flexiblecord is adapted to be carried within said flexible casing and the free end of said cord is equipped with a terl'ninal sleeve 9 within which a cigar lighting element or a trouble lamp may be secured, accordii'ig to the use to which the deviceis to be put.

A"; is paticularly shown. in Fig. 4, an axle ll is mounted transversely of the casing, having its ends pro ecting through central apertures in the sides thereof and at one end is provided with a screw-threaded shank 12 upon which a knurled head 13 is adapted to be engaged when turned in a counter-clockwise direction. The knurled head carri s on its inner face a locking pin 14; adapted to be seated within one ot a plurality of apertures l5 through the side of the casing, said knurled head being held against the face of said casing by means ot a coiled spring 16 secured beneath a washer 17 held .in place on the other end of said. axle by a screw 18 tappcd in the body portion thereof. A reel coini risinp a hub portion 21 seated upon the axle and a. pair or flanges 2:2, 23 is adapted to carry between said flanges a flexible cable idaid cable is provided with a pair of conductors 25, 26, one o't which is secured. by means oi a screw 27 to the hub portion of said reel, and the other of which is clipped to the flange 23 which is mounted on said hub but insulated theret'roiin by means of a fiber disc The disc 23. which, as stated, is insulated i'roin the supporting hub, is provided with a grooved outer face. as is more clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. This p'rooved outer :lace con'iprises an outer shallow groove or guide path El. 01 circular or non-progressive outline and an inner shallow groove or path 32 of circular or non-progressive outline. Sa d shallow circular grooves are connected with each other by means of a spiral groove or progressive cam path 33 extending from said out-er groove to said inner groove in a clockwise direction and being of slightly greater depth than either of said circular grooves. Said spiral groove is approximate 1; one full revolution of said reel in length and is adapted to operate the automatic switch of the apparatus when said reel is turned one full revolution in either direction, as will be hereinatter explained.

Vihen the device is attached to a metal instrument heard one of the conductor cables 'jecting flange the grooves on the flange 23. The opposite end of said switch elementis pivotally mounted upon a pivot pin 3? insulated from the casing by means of an insulating block 0 Au insulated contact pin 39 is provided, spaced a short distance from the insulated 37, securing the switch member to the g and is provided on its inner end with a beveled end ll. over which the switch member has wiping contact. Said insulated contactpin 39 is connected with the positive pole of the battery by suitable attachment Thus. each time the spring contact is wiped across the beveled head current is established in the cigar lighting filament or through. the trouble lamp, whichever attachment happens to be in place in the terminal socket ot the device.

The flange ot the reel. opposite to the flange provided with the grooved srurilhcc is Pl'OVltlCtl with an extension casing Til secured. centrally thereto and housing a coil type spring 52 secured atits inner end to a hub 53 by means of a pin 5st and having its outer end clipped beneath a lug); 55 struck inwardly from the side of the c sing. 'ifhe spring is adapted to rotate the reel in a counter-cloclcwise direction and is ot sullicicnt length to permit a liberal. quantity of cord to he carried by he reel so that the cigar lightlug terminal may be used by a person in the rear seat of a large car.

The cylindrical extension through which the tree end of the flexible cable extends is secured to the casing by means of a pair of short bolts 61, passing through the flange At the point where said base 62 thereof. cylindri -al extension is attached to the body portion of the casing the flanges at its circumference are cut away to provide an aperture 63 through which the flexible cable may be freely drawn. The cylindrical extension terminates in a front plate a of substantially triangular outline and provided at its lower central portion with an inwardly pro- 6s which telescopically engages the forward end of said cylindrical extension. Adjacent the sides of the upper portion of said front plate apertures 6a are provided, through which fastening bolts 66 may be inserted to secure the device to the instrument board of an automobile, or to some similar point of attachment.

As shown in Fig. 8, the terminal sleeve 9 comprises a sheet metal shell, preferably of aluminium having a cylindrical body porvii lilo

tion and a flanged and beaded jouterendl forming the gripping portion of the device.- The sleeve is provided with slots 7 2 ad acentits outer portion .liavingright angled 'lockin sections to receive studs 73 upon thebase of the trouble light bulb 71, orsimilar studs 75 upon the sleeve 76 mounted about the lower portion-of the composition base 77.

'The trouble lamp-comprises the usual miniature bulb of suitable candle power and voltage. The compositionbase, as is clearly disclosed'in Fig. 6, comprises a lava base of cylindricall form provided with aflanged. head 78, having ashallow recess 79 formed in lts outer face. A longitudinalpassageway 81 formed centrally through the base, com-V municates withsaidrecessed portion. and a similar passageway 82. is provided through salld base at on'eIside thereof ad1acentthe marginof the shallow recess. Adjacenteach of the said passageways a recess 83 of shallow depth 15. formech said last-named recesses providing seats for the ends of the 'he'atinc' wire, as will: be'hereina fter' described; Said heating wire i's-formedof suitable resistance material 84:, coiled in spiral form and seated within the shallow recession the face of the lava. base. The ends of-the wire are passed respectively through the central andlateral passageways through the base and are then turned sharply atright angles and seated in the shallow 'rec'ess'es 83 adjacent the respective ion-gitudmalpassageways. Through the :ineans just describedqtheheating wire is secure-d to. the lava base without the use of solder and by the simple expedient of seating the ends of the wire within suitable sockets.

The portions of the wire 85, which lie across the bottom face of thelava base areso spaced as to formproper contact elements to co-operatewith the spring fingers held within the terminal sleeve at the end of the flexible cable, As. has been before stated, the

s are carriedgupon the sleeve76 mount edupon the lower portion of the composition and this sleeve may be attached there i to byhavlng its upper edge 86 spun into an tudinally of: thelava base at diametrically opposite points.

In order to permit the. ready handling ofv the terminal sleeve the flange thereof is spaced from the trouble lamp bulb or the cigar lighting element a sufficient distance to permit the circulation of air between said flange and the unitemployedin the terminal sleeve. .Where said terminal sleeve is made of'alum'inum, this spacing of the flange from the interchangeable unit provides a means for l i'andl-ing said sleeve without dangerof;

burning the fingertips, inasmuch as the radiation of thehea't is brought about so quickly andjso thoroughly by this construction. T As is shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the terminal sleeve its bottom portion 91 provided 'Wlil'lan OPGDIHQ 92 ofl-crossdlke form, the

respective ends of said opening being adapted to receive the fastening screws 93 and conducting cables 25, 26, of the sectional contact plug 94', which is housed within the base of said terminal sleeve. Said contact plug, as is shown in Fig; 10, is formed in two sections, the main body portion 95 of which is provided with a pair of longitudinal openings 96, within which are housed on one side of said body a pair of fixed contact members '97, having; conical he ads,.an.d on the other' side of said body a pair of spring-pressed contact fingers 98 slidably mounted in metal ferrules '99; The inner ends of said contact fingers are provided with. heads 101 7 against. which coil springs 192 bear, the oppos te ends of said springs resting against the under faces of the fixed contact heads heretofore referred to.

The cap section; of the contact plug 103. like the body. portion thereof, is formed of insulating material andis provided on one face 'with conicalsockets 10% adapted to register with the conical heads of the body portion of said plug. communicate with. cylindrical passageways 105, which receivc'the flexible conducting cablesifi, 26. A pair ofscrews 93 serve to hold the'cap section of the contact plug against the body portion thereof. lhesc screws also serve to press the individual strands of the multistrand conducting cable in firm contactwith the surface of the tired contact member. This connection is illustrated .in Fig. 10, wherein the individual strands of the multi-strand conductors 25, 26; are spread mushroom fashion about the conical surface of the contact members 97 and are held securely clamped thereag'ainst by means of the conical socket portion of the cap member. The screws 93 are firmly seated in saidbody member so as to maintain said claniping action against said wires under all conditions of strainsvplaced upon them through ithe handling of the terminal sleeve with either the trouble lamp' or cigar lighting unit in place.

The terminal sleeve is slipped over the conducting cables before they are secured to the contact plug and said contact plug is held firmly in. the lowermostposition with in said terminal sleeve when either the cigar lighter or troublelamp unit is in place.

The operation of the device has been indicated in the. description of this construction,

but it should be pointed out that the various features of the construction have been developedwith a View to simplicity of manufacture and ease of assembly, as well as to Said conical sockets secure an improved result from the standpoint of operation. The wiping contact of the switch, produced by the swinging back and forth of the spring lever, insures peri cct contact under all operative conditions. lhe device, when used as a cigar lighter, is free oi the diliiculty experienced with many cigar lighters wherein the flexible cable will separate from the contact plug owing to the tension being" placed largely upon an individual strand of a inulti-strand cable. By having; the clamping elements engage each individual strand of such cable, the strain placed upon the same by the recoiling spring, of the apparatus can be easily sustained and there is practically no trouble arising from the ln'cahing of the cable at the usual points of connection.

Another feature of importance is the simple construction of the heating element wherein a resistance wire is coiled in suitable shape upon a lava base and is held in position by having its free ends seated within sockets on the under face off the same. Tlhrough having the adjacent ends of the r..istance wires exposed on the under face of the lava base in the proper position of contact with the spring pressed fingers of the c ntact plug a substantial contact is provided for with a minimum of expense.

When it is desired to use the device as a trouble lamp instead of as a cigar lighter the rccoilina' spring may be released from its active position by pressing inwardly upon the end of the axle shaft 11. which projects from the sprint;' housing. lVhen the axle is so forced to one side the locking pin 14 is discnc'ag 'ed from one of the apertures in the adjacent casing and the knurled screw may rotate freely with the axle until the spring: tension has been relieved. The full length of the conducting cable carried upon the reel may then be used by the person handline the trouble lamp without danger oi having the reel suddenly become active, as not infrequently happens with. trouble lamps carried upon reels having' an automatic ratchet control. When it is desired to re wind the flexible cable and restore the terminal sleeve to its normal position, the knurled head is turned the necessary number of times to place the desired degree of tension upon the recoiling spring.

it will be noted that the switch is operated either to establish or break the circuit with approximately one full rotation of the reel, and that the current is turned on immediatel after the terminal sleeve has been removed from its housing and is turned ofl immediately atter the recoiling action of the spring begins. Thus, the resistance wire will be heated to the required degree to light a cigar by the time it has gone from its seat to the pointat which it is to be used for cigar lightingpurposes and the current will be turned oil and the element cooled to substantially its normal condition before the terminal sleeve is restored to its housing. If, for any reason, the complete return of the terminal sleeve is not desired, as when: a party in the rear seat of an automobile iirstuses the device to light a cigar and later a party in the front seat of an automobile desires to use the same, it is unnecessary to return the terminal sleeve to its usual position, as the resistance wire may be restored to heated condition by merely drawing: the tler ble cable in an outward direction for a short distance at any point within its line of travel.

This device, while automatic, is tree oi the defect found in many automatic devices in that the spring tension may be rcpulatca'l at all times to an amount suliicient to fully restore the terminal sleeve to its fully retracted position, but in addition to this ieature of the. construction, it at any time the spring not tensioncd to an amount to iiully retract the terminal sleeve, the resistance wire will not be maintained in an active condition while projecting to a greater or less extent from its fully seated position. Thus, the complete safety of the device is provided For through having a spring, the tension of which may be controlled at all times, as well as through the construction providing :tor the automatic cut-off of the current as soon as the recoiling operation takes place.

Other modes of applying) the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the tollowing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

1 therefore particularly point out and dis tinctlv claim as my invention 1. In an article of the character described. the combination of a reel, a flexible cable carried by said reel, a spring for recoiling' said reel, a switch separate from said reel, means associated with said switch for moving]; the same into and out of contact in accordance with the direction of motion of such reel, and means for rendering said recoiling spring inactive.

2. In an articleoi' the character described, the combination of a reel, a flexible cable carried by said reel, a spring for recoilina' said reel, a switch separate from said reel,

means associated with said switch for moving the same into and out of contact in accordance with the direction of motion 0t such reel, and means for releasing the tension upon one end of said recoiling spring: so that the tension thereof may be relieved.

In an article of the character described, the combination of a casing, an axle positioned centrally of said casing, a reel rotatably mounted upon said axle, a recoiling llll] rate from said reel, means for releasing said axle from said casing to relieve the tension on said spring, and means foriturning said switch to active positlon as said drawnQfrom said reel. p a

4; In an article of the character described,

the combination of a reel, a 'fiexible 'elec trical conductor mounted on said reel, a

switch adjacent said reel, ZLQPZLIIYOI concentric grooves provided on one sldeof said reel,

a member on the free end' of said switch adapted to be seated withinsaid grooves, anda spiral groove connect ngsaid grooves to shift sald member from one of sardconcentric grooves to the other in accordance with the direction of rotation of said reel.

'5. In an article of thecharacter described, the combination of a reel, a flexible electrical conductor mount-edon said reel, a switch adjacent said reel, a'pair of concenone side" of said reel, a member'on the free send ofsaid switch adapted to be seated withv in .said grooves, and a groove of greater depth connecting said grooves to shift said member from one of sald concentric grooves to the other in accordance with the direction of rotation of said reel.

6. In an article of the character described, the combination offa reel, a flexible electrical conductor mounted on said reel, a switch element movably mounted adjacent said reel, a fixed contact member mounted adjacent said movable switch element, a pair of concentric grooves provided on one side of said reel, a member on thefree end of said switch element adapted to beseated within sa1d grooves, and a spiral groove connect ing said grooves to shift said member from one of said concentricfgroovesto the other inaccordance with thedirection of rotation of said reel and to swing said movable memher into and out of contact with said fixed contact member.

7. In an article of the character described, a caslng, an axle secured centrally of said casing, a reel pivotally mounted upon sald axle, a switch adjacent said reel, a spring housing carried upon said reel and within arr-extension of said casing, a spring secured at one end of saidlmusing and at its other end to the hub key-ed uponsaid axle, means for holding said axle against rotation with respect to said casing whereby said spring may be placed under a predetermined degree of tension, means associated with said reel for moving the switch into and out of contact posltlon in accordance with the direction 'ofmotion of said reel, and meansfor releasing said axle from engagement with said casing to relieve the tension uponsaid spring. i

8. In an when saidreel moves said cable.

article of the character described,

a casing, areel mounted within said casing and adapted to carry a flexible electrical cable, a switch adjacent said reel to control a circuit through said cable, means for retracting said cable,-means for rendering said retracting means inactive, and meansf'for shlftln'g sa d switch out of contact position in a direction to retract 9. In an article of the character described, the comb natlon of a reel to carry a flexible electrical conductor, a switch comprising a switch 'member for opening and closing circuit through said conductor, a cam turnlng with said reel and havmg two complete non-progressive guide paths and a progres si'veguide path joining the two non-progressive paths, and a follower on said switch member engaged in said paths and adapted to pass from one of said complete guide paths into said progressive guide path when 'the' direction of rotation of the reel is retric grooves of shallow depth provided on.

versed. V

10. In an article of the class described the combination of a reel to carry a flexible electrical conductor, and reel-controlled means for opening and closing a circuit through said conductor, comprising two elements relatively rotatable by said reel, one ofsaid elements comprising a cam having two complete non-progressive paths and a progressive path joiningthe tWo non-pro gressive paths, a switch member on the other of said elements, and a follower on said switch member engaged in said paths and adapted to pass from one of said complete paths into said progressive path when the rotation of the .reel is reversed. g 11. In a device of the character described, a cam device having two complete non-progressive paths and a progressive connecting cuit-closing position by one of said nonprogressive paths, for holdlng the switch open when controlled by the other of said non-progressive paths, and for shifting said contact'arm from one position to the other by means of said progressive connecting path.

12. In a'device ofthecharacter described,

elements having two circumferentially complete non-progresslve guide paths and a progressive guide path connecting said nonprogressive guide paths, and a circuit closing member mounted on the other of said elements and having a follower engaged in said paths for actuation by said connecting path and for retention in circuit-closing position by one of said complete paths and in open position by the other of said complete paths. 1 a

13. In a device of the character described,

a oam-device having two circumferentially .two relatively rotatable elements, one of said complete non-progressive cam paths and a connecting progressive path, and an electric switch connn'ising a shiltahle contact member vonnected with a member seated in said paths and adapted to be automatically controlled by said paths.

14. In a switch, a cam having two continuous grooves, one surrounded by the other, and a. spiral connecting groove, a co11- tact arm controlled by said grooves, and means to direct said contact arm into control by said connecting groove under certain circnmstanccs.

Eiigned by me, this 12th day of November, 1924, 1

HOWARD C. LIEBING. 

